I couldn't find any answers by searching, so I'll poke your collective brains. The thread title says it all...what are the upper decks of 747 freighters used for? Space for smaller cargo? Crew rest areas/cigar lounges? I would imagine it varies from carrier to carrier, so specific examples would be great.

*Edit*
Didn't think to do a photo search...I've got some answers now, but maybe we can still squeeze a discussion out of this.

Has anyone ever attempted to market those seats? After all, it would be less than 19 people, so no flight attendant needed. Just business class seats, a self-serve bar (obviously, no alcohol) and buffet, and *poof* you could perhaps make some decent money at it.

The top deck on the old UPS747 (100/200) still have the First class seats in them for extra crew members or jumpseaters. I have not heard of us using the top deck on the New 747-400F. They may add some crew rest areas as the new 747-400 will be flying longer flights.

Quoting UPS757 (Reply 4):The top deck on the old UPS747 (100/200) still have the First class seats in them for extra crew members or jumpseaters. I have not heard of us using the top deck on the New 747-400F. They may add some crew rest areas as the new 747-400 will be flying longer flights.

The standard configuration from Boeing on the 744F is 6 J seats and two bunks. Remember the 744F doesn't have the same stretch as the 744 pax. The 744 conversion takes a large part of the upper deck and removes the floor to accommodate 3 meter pallets on the main deck.

Quoting Gunsontheroof (Thread starter):I couldn't find any answers by searching, so I'll poke your collective brains. The thread title says it all...what are the upper decks of 747 freighters used for? Space for smaller cargo? Crew rest areas/cigar lounges? I would imagine it varies from carrier to carrier, so specific examples would be great.

Generally crew rest, a small galley and toilet. Many have Business Class equivalent seats fitted and some form of IFE, with extra seats above those needed for the crew in case company staff are deadheading on the flight.

They are actually quite nice in general! More space than a standard 742 upper deck as the staircase is missing, main deck access being via an aluminium ladder and hatch in the floor. There is also usually a desk of some form for the loadmaster position, to do the freight paperwork.

Quoting Tsnamm (Reply 14):The 747-200's actually have more space than the 747-400's for some reason...not really sure why...

The 400F has two more 3m high main deck pallet positions than the 200F, so the floor of the upper deck is shorter, even though the "hump" ha sthe same size when looking at it from the outside. You can also see it at the windows: The third cabin window on the 744F upper deck is the crew rest, with a bulkhead behind it. The position of this window is much further forward than the position of the rearmost window on a 200(F) upper deck.

Quoting Legacyins (Reply 13):I remember a couple of years ago, Cargolux filed an application to carry passengers on top deck of thier cargo flights.

I think that up to the 1980s, CV could carry passengers on board the 200F. There was even a flight attendant on board. I strongly doubt that CV ever filed an application for pax carriage on the 400F though.

Quoting JAM747 (Reply 19):but what is on the upper deck of the Air Force 1 747?

I believe it's the communications center. I spoke with a retired MSgt at Oshkosh a few years ago who worked the old 707 Air Force One and he said all the comm center activities were moved up there when the 747 was put into service.

LY's 742F,s have a couple of old business class seats, a little galley for getting drinks and heating meals etc. and in the rear 4 matrasses on the floor with blankets and pillows. So there's enough opportunity for the crew to relax when able..

Quoting Tsnamm (Reply 14):The 747-200's actually have more space than the 747-400's for some reason...not really sure why...

Very simple, The upper deck is shorter on the 744F to accomodate two more "high" palets on the main deck. Palets loaded through the nose of a 747 are lower then the one which can be loaded through the rear cargo door.

Quoting Patroni (Reply 18):I think that up to the 1980s, CV could carry passengers on board the 200F. There was even a flight attendant on board. I strongly doubt that CV ever filed an application for pax carriage on the 400F though.

Cargolux had 14 fist class seats on their 747-200's. They sold tickets to passengers, but only to Asia. It was the FAA which stopped that passengers could be carried on freighters to and from USA. In the end only staff and their families could fly, I think that is astill the case.

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